Hi I'm a new to the site and I don't have much technical knowledge (basic maintenance like oil and brake pads is my limit). I have a Buell XB9 which is about 6 years old with 11000 miles on the clock. I've ridden in all weathers, but mainly short journeys of 10 miles or less. The exhaust looks a bit corroded and a bit flakey but it's solid enough.

Whilst riding last night I noticed that the exhaust note became slightly different and a bit louder. The next minute it was really loud and I was expecting to find a big hole in it. I couldn't actually see any damage (although I haven't stripped off the plastic bits to see it properly yet). And the extra noise is coming from the exhaust outlet rather than some other point on the pipe. Is this a baffle problem? If so, what has happened to them?

Is there likely to be any downside to this (fuel consumption? loss of power?). As for the obvious difference, the noise, I love it. I've got a while to go before the MOT so that isn't a big problem yet.

Someone has offered me a new original Buell racing pipe set up fitted with retuning for £800. Is that a fair price? How much extra power and noise would I get? I'm not really bothered about extra power but the extra noise might be a handy errr... safety feature in heavy traffic and with pedestrians crossing the road. Would my bike still pass the MOT? Are there jacking issues? (The chap who changes the tyres always tells me he can't or won't jack up a Buell with aftermarket exhausts because they are not strengthened in the same place).

Any advice gratefully received?

800 quid......someone is having a laff/pulling your pants down

You need an Albert, you do

Why put 'England' as your location ......WTF are you based ?

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

..........And I'd find another tyre fitter. What's wrong with paddock stands?

Welcome to the Club, BTW.

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I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

At least the tyre fitter knows about the exhaust! Just hasn't heard of paddock stands though.

Welcome to the club.

_________________
Buell S1
Buell S3 (Topless for now)
Buell XB12S
Piaggio X8 400ie
Yamaha XTZ750 Super Tenere (x2)
Suzuki GSXR750WR
BSA B441VS
FJR1300

....and an Albert is .....?

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

My next purchase

A Buell made "racing" pipe should go through an MOT no problem, but it's doubtful that there are any new ones out there as accessory parts production stopped when HD shut Buell down.

Unless they are talking of an aftermarket Buell pipe, in which case you need to ask them if it will pass an MOT. Although £800 is an awful lot of money. And if you do decide to go down this route then don't let them fit a fueler gizmo as they tend to cause nothing but problems with Buells ...

The Buell Race pipe corrodes faster than a standard one. Mine went from the inside due to short journeys commuting. I suppose its lighter guage steel?

_________________
Buell S1
Buell S3 (Topless for now)
Buell XB12S
Piaggio X8 400ie
Yamaha XTZ750 Super Tenere (x2)
Suzuki GSXR750WR
BSA B441VS
FJR1300